The First Affair

by Emma McLaughlin, Nicola Kraus

Jamie McAlister has resigned herself to the fact that in this job market, her painfully expensive degree

might only get her a position at Starbucks, when she suddenly lands a prestigious internship at the White House. Although she doesn't hit it off with the other interns, lockjaws who come from so much money that ten weeks without a paycheck doesn't faze them; she is eager to work hard and make the best of the opportunity while it lasts.

An unexpected encounter late one evening with the charismatic President Gregory Rutland seems like just a fleeting flirtation, but when he orchestrates clandestine meetings and late-night phone calls, their relationship quickly escalates. Jamie knows what she is doing is wrong: he's married, he has kids, he's the President. Yet each time she tries to extricate herself, Greg pulls her back in.

With the conflicted desires of the most powerful man in the world driving her to her breaking point, Jamie can't help but divulge intimate details to those closest to her. But she must have confided in the wrong person, because she soon finds herself, and everyone she cares about, facing calculated public destruction at the hands of Greg's political enemies, and perhaps no matter how much he cares about her at the hands of Greg himself.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Adult, Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Womens Fiction

239 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

My partner, Nicki, and I have been writing together for 12 years. We're obsessed by what makes a satisfying story. I'm excited to hear from our readers what does it for them -- and what doesn't. As a working mom, the only book time I manage to steal these days is right before bed. I'm not the girl who can watch SVU and go to sleep with a smile. Ruling out kids/the economy/the world in peril as subject matter leaves sweeping Wharton epics or swift funny observations. The best is when a book makes you feel like you're still talking in the whee hours with your best college friend.

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you haven’t met an Erica McAlister in your life, then you should consider yourself a lucky bastard. You can whistle a lovely tune, as you march down to The White House, roll around on the eagle’s wings in the Oval Office, and then high-five the Secret Service—the guys with the earpieces and dark sunglasses—before your hands are slapped in cuffs, and you spend the next several years of your life contemplating your own stupidity in a maximum security prison somewhere in the middle of Kansas. This friend Erica has enough problems to cause a psychiatrist to start pounding whiskey faster than he can fill the glasses in the middle of her agreed upon appointment time. She’s a princess, a queen, and the entire court rolled into one; she’s the main attraction; she’s been coddled and worshipped since she was in diapers; this is her universe and everyone else merely gets to play in the sandbox; and she tells you her issues just so you can tell her how great she is and maximizing her sympathy points like stock tips.

But by the end of THE FIRST AFFAIR, she’d somewhat redeemed herself. Not to the point that she and I could have coffee together, but to the point that I didn’t need to wipe her existence from my brain via a metal probe and possibly a soldiering iron.

Jamie McAlister, her younger sister, isn’t without her own issues. Being completely starved for attention, to the point that she would have adopted a pet tarantula if he would just give her a hug, she devoted her time and resources to a completely unattainable man, simply because he had given her a look and possibly melted her thong in the process. She’s a starfucker of epic proportions. The President of the United States (POTUS) may have made googly eyes at her, but she began to view her life as some sort of fairy tale, where she was Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel, all rolled into one big happy family. If naiveté were a full-contact sport, she’d have the shoulder pads and uniform and helmet, and she’d be poised for the ensuing kickoff. But, instead, of rooting for her, I felt sorry for her, and the massive number of ensuing missteps that somehow completely enclosed her life. Instead of being a likeable character, she had turned into the princess.

Brooke, Betsy, James, Greg, Lena, Peter, Paul, and Rachelle all lost my sympathy at some point during the novel, or never had it at all, and I sat back and waited for the hammer to drop on their lives. When it did, I took some sort of sick pleasure in their ensuing half-existence.

None of this is to say this is a bad novel. It was light and airy and breezy like a bag of popcorn, and it filled me up about as well as cotton candy.

I received this book for free through NetGalley.

Cross-posted at Robert's Reads

[Jasprit · Rating 3 out of 5]

The First Affair was a book which I wouldn’t typically pick up, but I’d read some great books by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus previously, that I decided again to venture out of my usual comfort reading zone.

Despite not being a huge fan of cheating in books, I felt myself compelled into reading this story because of our MC Jamie. Her relationship (if you can really call it that) with the president kind of just happened when Jamie found herself with the president when he wasn’t in the best state. With so much pressure with the presidential election around the corner, the president was trying his best to deal, but this wasn’t the case, Jamie walked into him having an anxiety attack and by comforting him this led to a kiss out of the blue. Before you know it Jamie’s making the extra effort when going into work just in case she bumps into the president, soon this turns into impromptu calls into his office and late night calls from the president himself. I understand how Jamie felt around him, he was a powerful man and he made her feel what another man was never able to do. But to me from the very beginning it was very clear that this relationship did not mean to him as much as it meant to Jamie. There were early rumours flying about previous affairs and if he really cared about Jamie wouldn’t he have done anything possible to be with her? Instead she was fobbed off to another unpaid apprenticeship this time away from the White House and Jamie was told soon after the election, he would sort everything out. Poor Jamie was a complete sucker, instead of listening to her best friend and going back home, Jamie kept running back whenever he called and just kept waiting in the wings.

The reason I kept reading The First Affair despite being annoyed by both Jamie and the president’s behaviour was because I was waiting for the aftermath. I think McLaughlin and Kraus did a brilliant job with this, usually you’re not aware of what’s going down backstage, and you’re just given titbits of information. But this time we get to experience first-hand everything falling apart. And it was painstakingly horrible to watch, with people going back on their word, people coming out of the woodwork to get their two seconds of fame, and Jamie not knowing who she could trust. It was a brutal time for Jamie, but through it all a better character emerged within Jamie and a stronger relationship between her and her sister. Jamie’s sister Erica wasn’t the easiest person to like but through everything coming out in the open, Erica was the only real person that was there for Jamie when she needed someone the most.

The First Affair for me was a decent read; there were plenty of twists and turns which I didn’t see coming which had me reading until the very last page. But there were also parts which did take me a while to get around. But overall despite not quite feeling The First Affair initially I’m glad that I gave this book a go.

This review can be found on: The Readers Den

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why oh why do I bother with any more of these authors' books?? I feel like they write a complete book and then delete every 5th paragraph. I never can quite figure out what is going on. Despite a decent premise (White House intern meets the president, starts an affair and then gets demoted/transferred to a far-away government office) and a nice follow up (the third section addresses what happens with OIG and then the press discovers the affair), the book was difficult to follow and not well executed. It was not completely unreadable, hence the generous two stars, but I really need to learn the following:

Nothing these authors ever write will ever even approach The Nanny Diaries.

Repeat repeat repeat.

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

One would think that to be a young intern at the White House, one would have to have strong allies, an impressive resume, intelligence, common sense, personal integrity and standards, luck, and be mature enough to conduct oneself appropriately in the scrutinizing eyes of the public, or at least not get caught. The First Affair proves that the "human" element can cancel out all the rest! In what reads like the Clinton/Lewinsky debacle, authors Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus plunge us deep into the mind of Jamie, a new intern who has gotten a prized position at the White House and manages to find herself in the arms of one of the world's most powerful men, the President. Of course, it all unravels because Jamie apparently has not heard the phrase, "Loose lips sink ships."

I failed completely to connect to Jamie, her maturity level, selfishness and neediness failed to gain much support from me. She did come from a dysfunctional family, but this does not excuse or explain her actions. The character of the president was too weak to be believed, he was flat. The subplots are what held my interest, filled with the intrigue and hidden agendas of Jamie's "friends," there is definitely a dog-eat-dog feel to this book, but as far as happy endings or even a satisfying ending? I didn't feel it.

An ARC edition was provided by NetGalley and Atria Books in exchange for my honest review.

Expected Publication Date: August 27, 2013
Publisher: Atria Books
ISBN: 9781451643428
Number of Pages: 256
Genre: Drama/Fiction
Recommended Audience: New Adult/Adult
My Rating: 3 stars
Available from: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.

[Gaele · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this story, I’ve read Between You and Me by the same author team, and I had high hopes for this book. But, I found several issues that disappointed me beyond the usual ‘hope’ I have for a story.

Initially, this book reads far more like a ‘what if’ retelling of the Monica Lewinsky story – the setup is the same, 20 something intern in DC in a ‘relationship’ with the POTUS. But far from feeling like it could be possible and that Jaime has something to offer beyond her degree, Jaime was possibly the most dislikable and vapid character I have ever met. Unable to get along with anyone without first considering the consequences and benefits FOR her, the small pieces of her vast insecurities were left untapped, and gave me no reason to find her remotely engaging beyond the watching a train wreck sort of way.

Unfortunately, the majority of the first half of the book does not fit with the quality that is finally appearing in the latter half: while I don’t pretend to be an expert on ‘co-writing’ their other efforts did not show such a marked difference in quality and cohesion. When we finally are exposed to Jaime’s thoughts about the POTUS’ marriage – her justifications are nothing new, and actually very realistic for someone who is 20 something and thoughtlessly self-involved.

Of course there is betrayal – why wouldn’t there be with her refusal to compromise and get along with others: not always sparked by simple jealousy, but often a career move, her own ignorance and lack of self-examination as to her role just was infuriating.

But, I soldiered on, and the second half was a bit better: not gravitating to depth or even finding a way to redeem or even car about Jaime, the light and fluffy read was one that was hard to put down despite my frustrations. And perhaps, the fact that the authors were able to create characters for this story that alternated between my wanting to strangle them or hoping for the karma bus to run them over is the real treat. I have, however, read better by this team of writers.

I received an eArc copy from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

[Paula Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I waffled between giving this book two or three salutes, and as I got three fourths of the way through things started to change for me. Everything became a lot clearer, and I could see what the book was really about. It wasn't just about Jamie McAlister's "affair" with President Gregory "Greg" Rutland, but rather a story about finding yourself, and figuring out where you belong in the world. Jamie had to define her own path since childhood. She looked for love and attention wherever she could get it because it seemed that she didn't exist at home. Her demanding sister, who played a pivotal role in her finding her way throughout the novel, took away that attention she craved from her mom and dad. Therefore she did what she could to get noticed, and one of the ways she did that was by focusing on being a good student, a hard worker, and a good daughter. Jamie carried that trait into adulthood, and through her hard work and diligence she got a position she craved, an internship at the White House. This position was a true test for her, and she worked hard to show that she could be trusted, and that she would be an ideal candidate for a full time position. Everything changed during the furlough, and it was at this point where the true test of her character came into play. Jamie's character was a bit annoying because her naïveté astounded me. She, a brilliant young woman, refused to see her situation for what it was, and held on to hopeless ideas that would never see the light of day, at least in my reality. I couldn't understand why she couldn't see what was going on, and it wasn't until her family came to visit that things began to clear up. She was still that little girl who was desperate for love, and to have the attention of one of the most powerful men in the country, made her feel special, and she didn't want to lose that, even if it meant losing herself in the process.

For a more in depth review go to my blogpost here: http://peacenlovepaula.blogspot.com/2...

[Sherri Ashburner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novel! I know, I know, it WAS Monica Lewinsky-esque, but how could it not? A young intern, a charismatic President, a dark hallway...you get the picture. Perfect vacation read.

[Virginia Myers · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book through Bookbrowse First Impressions.

I would like to give this book two ratings – one rating for Part 1 of the book and a different rating for the remainder. I have no idea how the two authors collaborated on writing the book (and this most likely has nothing to do with my problem) but it seemed to me as if a different writer took over midway through it.

My rating for the first half would be a 1- (a one minus). I had a very hard time getting used to the combination of the writing style and the vocabulary. The vocabulary may have been a generational thing – this story was about the experiences of a current day young college graduate on her very first job (named Jamie) while I am a female 79 year old enjoying retirement at an independent living facility. I am not completely an out-of –touch old coot but my tastes in most everything are probably miles away from Jamie’s. Nevertheless, there were too many references in the book to things like “airnb sublets” or “the Bianca of Washington” – does it date me to admit I had to check out what these meant by going on-line? Also, there were too many sentences where I finally did figure out what was meant, but it is distracting when you have to think about it before going on.

My rating for the last part of the book would be a 3.5 or even a 4. While I had to push myself to continue reading the first part; I actually enjoyed the last part of the book. I was intrigued by the mystery of who the whistle blower was and whether Jamie would finally begin to tell the truth. Her loyalty deserves a halo but her lack of common sense was ridiculous.

I am not sure how the public will accept the very obvious connection between this story and the Monica Lewinsky affair. It did not bother me and I smiled ever so often recognizing the obvious twists in the story to keep us thinking about the Lewinsky and Clinton affair complete with the blue dress on the cover. As I read it, I wondered whether the variations in the story which departed from that well publicized affair were intentional or whether there were many things that seemed to be entirely the fictional imagination of the writer but were actually unknown parts of Monica’s situation. Of course, there were sufficient differences to make it in the end a fictional story of its own making.

My final comment is that I do not believe I would recommend this book to others. I must admit that it does not depart from how it was described by the publisher so I got just what I asked for when I signed up to read it and I also am not sorry that I took the time to finish reading it, but it was not a memorable read and does not reach anywhere near the level of good writing or excellent plot that I require before recommending a book to a friend. I would rate it as equivalent to one of the Harlequin Romance books I read years and years ago as I entered menopause and needed a boost.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5 stars - "Hope and After Hope."

Jamie McAllister is 22 and "needing to be liked." Her family has failed her and she has been unable to find a paying job when she manages to obtain an internship at the White House and the Department of Scheduling and Advance because of the recommendation of her best friend's mom. When the staffers are furloughed during a budget impasse forced by President Rutland, Jamie has a chance encounter with him that sets her on a path to scandal and total devastation. Channeling Monica Lewinsky and tabloid headlines, the character of Jamie is both naive and star-struck when she imagines that the affair is love rather than the older powerful man taking advantage of her for his own selfish purposes. What happens is predictable but it's the details of how the secret is revealed and how the situation is handled that make this book such a fun read.

This is a perfect book for summer and light beach reading though the themes of adultery and the fall of the famous man are extremely weighty but far too commonplace in our society. Without moralizing, the authors take the reader into the mind of the girl who hangs on to the promises of a troubled man who doesn't even try very hard to avoid the trap he creates. She is the seduced, not the seducer, and the novel makes it very clear that society is both titallated by and unforgiving of the victim, the other woman, the discarded one. Jamie's life was indeed torn apart by this ill-advised and risky affair with a man she really thought she loved and for whom she risked everything.

I'd recommend it to anyone interested in how horrible the judgment of strangers who get to proclaim "not whether the relationship was wrong -- it was. Or immoral -- the definition of. But its very veracity." You think you've heard it all before and maybe you have. Of course, we all KNOW what this was really about, right? Why he picked her, why she did it. Or do we?

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book written by McLaughlin and Kraus I’ve read. First was, of course, The Nanny Diaries (after I’ve seen the movie), and then recently it was The Real Real. I adored both books and knew for certain that I was going to love this one. And indeed I did.

McLaughlin and Kraus are undoubtedly a superb team. The First Affair once again showcases how well these two ladies bring their characters to life and into the hearts of their readers. Jamie is a very realistic protagonist, and for me it wasn’t a matter of liking her or not liking her. It mattered more to me that I could understand how she felt and why she did what she did. I also understood her motivations and justification for doing something that couldn’t possibly end well for either her or Greg. At that same age I would’ve probably done the same thing if I was in her shoes, without realizing the far reaching consequences of my actions.

The realism of this story is incredible, but I was drawn into it for all the different ways it made me feel. Alongside Jamie I also fell in love with Greg even though I knew from the start their relationship was headed for a bad end. This story is not so much about a young woman in a torrid affair with a powerful man (it sort of is, yet it’s also not). It’s more about two broken people, a self-serving sister, backstabbing “friends”, a hurt-filled past (for more than one character), and a family that has been falling apart for a very long time. THAT is what ultimately drew me in – the many layers which brought home a different perspective on loyalty, healing, and family.

The ending was bittersweet and left me smiling, though I rather felt like crying for what was and what wasn’t for Jamie and Greg. I liked how every single character played a pivotal role in the storyline, and how Jamie grew throughout the experience. I think the ending – though somewhat heartbreaking – was a good end to a really magnificent story. The First Affair is a novel I’m glad I had the pleasure of reading.

[Cheyenne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, I saw the reviews on this one, but decided to read it anyway, since I have enjoyed EM & NK's books in the past. The story itself is not bad and is entertaining for the most part. My problem was that I found that it was just written strangely. I don't think I am too old to "get" the speech patterns, but I found myself rereading whole paragraphs too many times. There are a couple of mentions of getting "on line" at Starbucks to order...and I kept wondering if this was a typo, but it came up twice. Apparently, "on line" is the same as "in line"...is this a regional thing? Also there would just be lines of dialogue that would jump from one thing to the next without any kind of smooth transition. A few examples of awkward writing:

pg. 34 - Because I was following the evaporating trail of a cigarette down the street that I wanted to inhale.

pg. 79 - "Let's be clear, Jamie. I'm not now, nor have I ever, telling you what to do."

pg. 142 - The whole conversation with Patty.

pg. 149 - The scene with the coat.

Jamie's character was not the smartest, but a little of that is too be expected for her age and the situation. Her relationship with her sister was strange and actually her whole family dynamic was strange. It seemed as though the snippets of interaction with Jamie's family were supposed to give us insight into why she is the way she is, but I just found them distracting and we needed more time with them to better understand. If I didn't have to work so hard to read this, I think I could have given it a better rating. As it was, I was reading with the feeling that too much explanation had been edited out. It was just too hard to see exactly what was going on.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

If my mother hadn't read this book and given it a very positive review I never would have heard of it. If I'd realized it was written by the authors of "The Nanny Diaries", I would have NEVER picked it up.

Luckily for me, she did and I didn't, so I read "The First Affair". Wow, it was really good! Jamie is totally and completely stupid, of course, but it's the kind of stupid that feels very realistic for a 21-year-old girl. Characters that at first feel like they might be caricatures turn out to be so much more real and complex than you'd imagined. Jamie's backstory contains secrets and surprises and even a shocker or two - but they feel organic and not forced. The closest thing to a one-dimensional character for me is the President himself...but we are seeing him mostly through Jamie's eyes and experiences so even though I wish they'd done a little more with him, it's far from a deal-breaker.

Mostly what this book did is make me seriously rethink my attitudes and preconceptions about the Clinton-Lewinsky "affair" and realize again how quickly most of us were to place at least equal blame. If you have a powerful married man in his 40s and a girl in her early 20s who works for him, who's the predator? That's not even throwing in the whole "most powerful man on the planet" mystique. Yet, the girl becomes a national joke and the man is still universally respected and employed at high salaries. I'm not advocating anything here it just...the book made me think. It made me examine not only my thoughts about this country and our media, but it made me take a good long look at myself. Add that to a very enjoyable read and to me that's a darn good book.

PS - Fellow "Scandal" fans: Just try NOT picturing this guy as Fitz, I dare you. It's tough!

[Dana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finished a bad, bad book late today, while sitting in my car outside the public library (yes, it was closed as today is sunday) with a latte and a donut (don't judge me). I wanted to put it into the return bin outside the library the minute I finished. The book was 8 days late because I had very little time, and perhaps not much inclination, to get it done, and yet I wanted to finish it. Oh, the book? "First Affair," by Nicola Kraus and Emma Mclaughlin, the same duo who wrote "The Nanny Diaries." This new novel is based on the Clinton/Lewinsky debacle, which by today's standards was really pretty tame, but in the novel, the relationship is moved into modern days, not set back in the 1990's. Not much has changed since then, except for the increased presence of social media, texting, twittering,etc. which adds something to the pace of the book. Names are changed, the cigar is replaced with a shaving brush, there is more involvement of the young intern's family, and there is an "after" story that perhaps fills in some gaps. Basically, the presentation of the novel was just stupid, shallow and contrived, certainly NOT riveting, and yet......I did need to get to the end. I would have liked to read more about the impeachment trial, which took up less than a sentence in the book. Do not waste time or money on this one. I would rather read a true account of what happened, than this fact based novel that had promise, but failed, to deliver.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I disagree with the comments on here about her being naive and young - that is to say, I agree with them, but don't any of you remember being young and naive? She was lonely and in a new town, and was beyond flattered that the President was hitting on her. [that's not to say what she did was right, since she knew he was married, but it does give some perspective]

I found this book fascinating because of the whole Lewinsky/Clinton scandal, too.

Read my full review at: http://booksithinkyoushouldread.blogs...

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is just okay - better than most chick lit out there, at least. I got fed up with the distractions of the weird family dynamic and thought there could have been less of that..... Jamie herself, yeah, she's pretty dim and naive. Also - the timeline was a major problem. The main story was clearly set in the present day - cell phones, 24-hour news, Facebook, plus mentions of Mad Men and reading Gone Girl. But in the epilogue, she mentions Weiner and Spitzer and all those sex scandals that have happened since the supposed action of the book. You can't have it both ways - that was sloppy.

[Sarah Marble · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is sort of awful and gross, but also relatable. The protagonist is crazy in love. Actually crazy. If it's happened to you, this book makes you feel like less of freak (and more of one, because the person you got addicted to and went insane for was not the President of the United States, it was just some loser douche.)

[Celeste_pewter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two-second recap: The First Affair is an entertaining and fast read, but lacks the substance and depth required for a novel with such a subject matter.

***

Full review

I highly enjoyed The Nanny Diaries when it first came out, so when I heard that Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus had a new book and it had a political theme, I figured it was definitely worth checking out.

Luckily for me, Atria books kindly obliged, and sent me a galley via NetGalley!

***

Things that worked:

* The world-building/atmosphere.

Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus do a fairly good job of setting Washington up as a town where everyone knows everyone else's business, and people are willing to step over others to succeed. They also convey the sense of ruthlessness innately ingrained in the city, which they also showed startling well in The Nanny Diaries.

I definitely got a sense of why Jamie was attracted to the environment, and felt like she could succeed there.



* The sibling relationship

Jamie and Erica's relationship was frustrating, but also extremely touching and realistic. Emma and Nicola did a fantastic job of showing how Jamie's achievements could be completely overshadowed by Erica's physical and mental needs, and how that would result in such a complex, twisted relationship between the sisters.

However, at the same time, Emma and Nicola gave enough hints of the love between the two girls, to show why Erica would still come to Jamie's rescue when needed, despite having personal reservations about what Jamie was getting involved in.


* The post-college/work friendships

Throughout most of the story, Jamie's constantly in touch with both a friend from undergrad, and two new work friends. Emma and Nicola do a fantastic job of capturing both the painful nostalgia of what it feels like for Jamie to interact with a friend who represents the simplicity of college life, and how she now has to work harder to keep up with her new friends.


***

Things that didn't work: :

* Jamie

It's fairly evident from the plot line, that we're going to find it difficult to like Jamie. After all, she's doing something that society instinctively rails against.

However, even with that in mind, I found it difficult to jive with Jamie and her overall mindset. She spends most of the book being profoundly needy and naive, in a way that made me wonder how she even managed to graduate from college. It was kind of like watching the post-college/internship version of Ally McBeal, without any of the quirk or the sass. I spent a lot of time mentally facepalming, whenever Jamie did or said something that was just startling naive.

In other words, Jamie's personality made the story less compelling. And as a result, it not only undermined the story, it also undermined affair. I found it difficult to belive that the leader of the free world - horn dog that he is - would fall for someone who is so genuinely clueless about the world around her.

On that note...

* The affair

I think that there's something about human nature that makes us wonder instinctively why people get involved in an affair. I think we want to see the psychosis and personalities involved, and just how people are driven to pursuing that affair.

However, you don't really get that here. I reread The First Affair twice, and I'm still having difficulty seeing why Jamie and Greg were attracted to each other. Yes, Jamie has severe emotional issues related to the men in her life. Yes, Greg has emotional issues on how he's running the government. But Emma and Nicola don't really explain just why they find each other attractive, outside of physical attributes. I definitely wanted more.


* The attempts at satire

I'm generally up for political satire, even if it pokes fun at something or someone I care about - as long as it's funny. Even though I was a big fan of Bill Clinton, I found Primary Colors: A Novel of Politics amusing and extremely entertaining.

Emma and Nicola try to reproduce that form of political satire here, but it just doesn't work. There are a lot of hints and suggestions to how President Rutland is similar to our current commander-in-chief - e.g. the president owns a Portuguese water dog; the First Lady leads a very specific healthy eating/exercise program - but instead of satirizing our current White House, it just came off as vaguely... unsettling.

(I almost used the world "sleazy", but I also think that's unfair to Emma and Nicola's writing style.)

In many ways, it felt like I was getting a glimpse into their opinion about the current state of politics in our country, verses some intelligent/humorous commentary. It felt a little wrong.


***

Final verdict: The First Affair is a fun read, but there were some issues that prevented me from enjoying the book fully. I would still recommend it for fans of NA and romance novels, but with some reservation.

I would also recommend this book for fans of The Nanny Diaries, and Queen of Babble.

***

Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC of The First Affair from Atria Books via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

[Jenny Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slight spoilers ahead so read at your own risk.

Thanks to the authors, Atria Books, and NetGalley.com for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this title.

3.5 stars

Again, another compulsively readable book from Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus. Even though this book made me wildly uncomfortable (I spent most of my time reading half-yelling at Jamie which was fine when I was home alone but a little odd when I was in the break room at work. Lots of weird looks my way, so thanks for that) I thought it was interesting and a good, inside looks at the world of politics and scandal (mostly the scandal part). There were twists I didn't see coming, twists that I totally saw coming, twists I thought I saw coming only to be lulled into a false sense of security before being proven right, and one twist that blew my mind (the person who orchestrated Jamie and Erica's escape. Just wow. Never saw that coming in a million years). There were times when I wanted to slap every character in the book (seriously, every one of them. Especially the President for acting like a weak-willed child but most especially that #$%^&$# Mike Harnet. I hope someone eventually pressed charges against him. Though I was a little confused at the first mention of him because I thought he was a teenager like Jamie. Only later did I figure out that he was older and therefore creeptastic and hate-worthy. Did I miss something saying that he was working at the library and not just another teen in there reading/studying? If not then maybe that should be made a little more explicit. It made thins a little confusing further down the line).
Like I said, the plot made me wildly uncomfortable because illicit affairs always make me uncomfortable but I didn't hate Jamie like I thought I might. Even though I hated the bad decisions she made, I could understand why she made them. That doesn't mean I agreed with her--far from it--but I could understand that she wasn't thinking clearly, that she was swept up in this crazy, huge situation, that she let her emotions rule her head to her detriment even if she couldn't see it at the time. I mean, it must have been an incredibly heady thing to have one of the most powerful men in the world pay attention to you. Speaking from experience (though my experience is massively different from Jamie's. Let me reiterate, massively different), it's a heady thing when someone you're attracted to likes you back, pays attention to you, romances you, that sometimes you ignore all the little (and huge) warning signs telling you that it's a bad idea. You convince yourself that things can work out. You create fantasies in your head of how life will be once everything works out (even though it probably won't work out) and then are distraught when those fantasies don't happen or even don't happen as quickly as you want them to. I think that's why I couldn't dislike Jamie; I've done the same thing to a much lesser extent. McLaughlin and Kraus are really good at creating real, believable characters who are human, make mistakes, and then try to piece their lives back together.
Jamie certainly wasn't perfect--she made some real whoopers on the bad decision scale and sometimes acted like a child when people didn't support those bad decisions--but she seemed like she could be a real person caught up in an insane situation. Even though the first act was a little slow, it was easy to read and easy to anticipate that things would soon start spiraling out of control. And boy did they spiral. I was so tense and anxious reading as Jamie's world imploded and I liked that the resolution, while not some neat and perfect thing tied up with a bow, was fulfilling, at least for most of the people involved. There were some things I didn't like (but then I'm a much more vindictive person than Jamie was and she did manage to stir up some trouble for Mike so that made me happy), but on the whole I enjoyed this book even though I knew it was not going to have a happy ending. But then I kinda think it did have a sorta happy ending: Jamie did get to go to Venice after all.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The First Affairnofollow is the newest novel by authors Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus. I’ve read much of what this pair has written so when I was given the chance to review this book through NetGalley, I jumped on that opportunity.

I devoured this book. I could not put my Kindle down and stayed up late to treasure this one. (And that’s a sacrifice for me since sleep is limited lately) Just like their previous novel, Between You and Me, and their first big hit, The Nanny Diaries, I was absorbed from the first chapter and sad when the book was over. If you were a bit young when the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal was big news, consider this book your refresher into the affair as it seems to resemble the events that happened 15 (!) years ago.

The authors excel at showing how and why Gregory Rutland would be able to rise up to become President of the United States. I have to admit that as I read this, I pictured the President as Jason Sudeikis as he appeared portraying Mitt Romney on SNL last year. This character seemed to be that wise-cracking and charming but somewhat slick guy that many woman would find attractive. I was also strongly reminded of Bill Clinton. For my fellow fans of The Family Guy, I was also reminded of the episode where Lois has an affair with Clinton and she can’t really explain why or how it happened. Jamie seems to be quickly enveloped into something that is far out of her control and she’s left bewildered and confused after the whirlwind has passed.

The only point of contention I have with this book is that while there is barely a glance passed between the couple, the affair has begun. I wonder if Jamie had not been sent to his office and seen him in the midst of a panic attack if anything would have happened. Was he faking this panic attack to seem more vulnerable? The whole beginning of the affair seems somewhat fast and muddled to me, but again maybe that just lends to the blurry speed with which everything occurs.

Another point arises in this novel that I’d like to point out. We seldom think about the families of the big names in scandals, news and the tabloids. However, this book shows that the families, though they may know nothing about what is going on, is just as under scrutiny and attack as the major players. It was sad that Jamie’s family had to suffer because of her actions.

I don’t want to say too much but the end of the book was sad yet confusing to me. I don’t know that I would have felt and acted like Jamie did. I guess it speaks for the growth that Jamie undergoes through the whole situation. If you do wind up reading this book, I’d love to hear about what you thought about the ending.

The First Affair would have been perfect for the short vacation that I am about to take. If you’ve got a weekend of relaxing ahead (Labor Day weekend?), be sure to nab this book. You will be done with it quickly but may wind up neglecting your family just to see what happens next.

I received a copy of this book in order to provide a review.

[Jane Thomson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have to agree with those on this comment list who feel that Jamie is a character who lacks maturity and insight. However, I think that with maturity comes the wisdom of looking at the whole picture. There were so many times when the reader wanted to yell : "Stop and think about what you are doing!" as Jamie blundered through the months of her internship. Yet, she was young and her previous love affair had ended in disaster; her family life was close to being dysfunctional; her ability to make important decisions was far too dependent on the opinions of others. She is a flawed human who desperately needs to feel loved... one has to wonder how many young people are tormented by such insecurities in our fast-paced world.

The repercussions of her actions are widespread and painful. I appreciate that the authors have made the reader cringe so often during the last half of the story. How totally humiliating such notoriety must be for those caught in such compromising situations. (Rather, for allowing themselves to indulge in such situations...) By the end, the reader feels that the young woman HAS grown and changed into an adult because of her experience. There is a certain lack of fairness in the fact that a former president can still earn in the millions after such a travesty, but reality has shown us that this IS the case!

I would recommend this book to readers - especially for the second half.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminiscent of Kennedy and Clinton Naughtiness

Jamie, a naïve 22 year-old intern at the White House, accidentally meets the President in a hallway near the oval office. He's having a panic attack; she's available; and a bit of groping ensues. Jaime wants someone to love her – even like her – so it's heady stuff when the President wants to cuddle.

I found the first half of this book uninteresting. Jamie comes across as an immature character with a selfish outlook. The groping scenes with the President and her confession to her girl friends seem juvenile. I couldn't see what interested him about her.

The second half of the book was better. Interoffice politics and jealousy combine to bring the affair into the open. The FBI and worse the newspapers get involved. It is fast paced and interesting enough to keep you reading.

The ending like the beginning is a disappointment. Everything is wrapped up neatly, but there isn't much character growth or even understanding of the situation. I can't recommend this book unless you were fascinated by the Lewinsky scandal and want to revisit something close to it. The book, particularly the first half, is not particularly well written and the characters are stereotypes or, in the case of the President, flat.

I reviewed this book for Net Galley.

[Stacie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. I've wanted to like all the author's books and yet I haven't. Yet I keep reading them. Anyway, the story focuses on a young intern in DC during election season and the trouble she finds herself in when she has an affair with the President. It seemed to be a fictionalized version of the Clinton/Lewinsky affair right down to secret recordings. Mostly it was just a cautionary tale on why you don't get involved with married people, especially those in powerful places and you never EVER know who you can trust with your deepest darkest secrets. I didn't find any of the characters likeable but that's not really a complaint, just an observation. The characters don't always need to be likeable for me to like a book but I think it may have helped this one along.

Received from Net Galley.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so this book had a lot going on, but not a lot going on. I later discovered that two authors wrote this book. It was not well put together to me.. let me elaborate. The transitions from place, to place were not smooth; maybe due to the author collaboration, not sure. I actually had to start over after the third or so chapter to try the book out again due to slight confusion. Overall, I liked the book, there was a friendly small 'actiony' twist which was really cool. I grabbed this book at a B&N in New York City at a conference. I would recommend with a warning on the transitions.

[Liz Fenton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and fast-paced--another winner from McLaughlin/Kraus!

[Kaley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally reviewed at Books Etc.

I've read and enjoyed a few of Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus's past novels (including The Nanny Diaries) so when I was given the chance to read their latest, The First Affair, through NetGalley I thought, why not? The novel was a good one and while I didn't love it as much as their others, it still had me frantically flipping pages (so to speak) to find out what would happen in the end.

The best thing about this book was the feeling of being behind the scenes of a huge scandal. Just as Kraus and McLaughlin's novel Between You and Me (my review here) made you think about what Britney Spears was going through during her breakdown, The First Affair put you in a position to really consider how Monica Lewinsky was feeling during the scandal with President Clinton. It's easy to forget that what we hear in the media isn't just another fictional story. These books allow us to remember there's a real person behind the reports and lies.

I know I'm going to sound contradictory with my next statement. I love McLaughlin and Kraus's writing because it feels like I'm experiencing everything right along with the character. But...feeling some of those things makes for an uncomfortable experience. The fact is, Jamie is having an affair with the President of the United States. That's some heavy stuff. Even a character having an affair with a regular married man could be hard to take but the things Jamie has to deal with, particularly at the end of the novel, are gut wrenching. Though I sometimes felt emotionally uncomfortable while reading, I still think the authors did a great job of writing this story and the characters. Even though you know what Jamie is doing is wrong and so, well, stupid, you still feel for her and you want her to be ok.

I have to point out that the novel wasn't all doom and gloom. There were several moments that had me laughing out loud, particularly about Jamie's age and current point in life. Jamie's 21 and trying to enter an extremely brutal job market. When Greg asks her about how she ended up at the internship she replied:
"I had a complex strategy my generation is really perfecting. First I applied for every job in America. Then I applied to every internship."

This is the sad but true reality of twentysomethings these days. Thinking about this, I suppose this line is really not all that funny but since I am in the same boat as Jamie (though a few years older) I can see the dark humour in it. The next line, though, is one that I think everyone can find amusing. Jamie is talking to her mom about life and after asking a horrified Jamie if she's on the pill, her mom says:
"Look, I'd rather you were a bad Catholic than a good mother right now."
I couldn't stop laughing when I read this line. Hilarious.

While I was reading this book I wondered if I had a different take on it because I'm not American. Political sex scandals just don't happen in Canada. Seriously, I looked it up and there are hardly any and they do not reach the proportions of, say, Clinton and Lewinsky. The most scandalous story I knew had to do with the wife of a Prime Minister fooling around with the Rolling Stones in the '70s. I know it really doesn't matter that I'm Canadian and the characters are not but I couldn't shake the sense that I was reading it differently than an American would.

While the story of The First Affair was interesting, I struggled with making the connections for some issues (I still have no idea what the deal was with Jamie's ex) and the characters weren't particularly captivating. I did like that I was able to be surprised by some characters' actions and motives. That being said, Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus have written a solid novel. It explores an intense set of circumstances but allows for some lighthearted moments and does not shying away from the severity of the situation. I didn't love this novel but that won't stop me from picking up their next book.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating – 4 Stars

*I received a digital copy of this novel free from Netgalley on behalf of Atria Books*

Jamie just graduated from Vassar, several thousand dollars in debt (thanks student loans!) with no job prospects (thanks government!). She luckily landed an internship at the White House, which will at least look good on her resume.

She’s not well liked by her fellow interns, and her best friend is across the country. She’s lonely. She has no real plan besides possibly moving back home to live with mom and dad.

During a government furlough, the interns are forced to work double time and closer to the President. During a routine run to have paperwork dropped off, Jaime accidentally runs into the President while he’s having a panic attack. Having experienced panic attacks herself, she knows how to calm him down, so she does what any nice American citizen would do, and she helps him.

And he kisses her as a thank you.

Which leads to (I’m sure you can guess what it leads to, y’all are smart) an AFFAIR. The President is THE PRESIDENT. Can you turn him down? Not like Jamie wants to exactly, because she just wants someone to love her.

Jamie has a dysfunctional family. Her dad is an alcoholic; her sister is kinda mean and an alcoholic. Her mother is just...there. She grew up feeling kind of unloved and like she was second fiddle to her dad and sister’s issues. That’s not really an excuse for having an affair with a married man but it’s her reasoning.

Anyways, her first mistake is having an affair with a married President. Her second is telling so many people about it. (She tells three, THREE!). Also, he promises her a job but not really and she gets screwed and placed in another unpaid internship because The President’s adviser has gotten suspicious and wants her out of the White House.

They never actually have sex but engage in sex acts (and there are a couple Monica Lewinsky-ish things that happen with a coat and a shaving brush. If you don’t know who that is, google her).

Eventually it all comes crashing down around her during the Presidents trial about him another woman. Her “friends” basically set her up or abandoned her. And I don’t think I’m spoiling here because exactly how do you think a book about an affair with a married President is going to end?

I actually really liked this book. I hate cheating, I hate when cheating is justified in a book, and I really hate when the other woman knows about the wife. But there are no excuses in this book. There are very serious consequences for everyone’s actions.

Jaime is a very unsure, naïve girl. She just wants someone to pay attention to her and love her. Granted, she chose the wrong person but we all make mistakes, right? She actually fantasizes about becoming the FLOTUS but doesn’t really wish the President’s wife out of the picture because she would hate to see her hurt. Jaime thinks about how what they’ve done will affect the children. Once you figure out her back story you can kind of see why she would both make such a terrible decision involving a married man. She comes to something of a realization.

And of course Jaime also gets totally effed over; by the President, her supposed friends, the media, ex-boyfriends. So does anyone that’s ever had any connection to her.

Jaime pays for her mistake with her future; such is life for a woman though. The President still gets to be President and Jaime gets labeled a whore. That is commented on.

I really enjoyed this book. I recommend! (Unless cheating is a GGGRRRR thing for you that sends you into a rage. Then maybe skip it.)

Read this review and more at Punk's House of Books

[Court · Rating 3 out of 5]

I reviewed this at MustReadBooksOrDie with my friend Shelley!

Court: So...mostly right now I feel that this book is oddly prophetic, with our nation's current state of affairs in Washington D.C. and that might actually prove to be a non-selling point for some people with this book. And really, me being a reader that is anti-cheating plotlines, I am moderately surprised as to how much I liked this book. Shel: I'm actually surprised that you liked it too...for exactly that reason!

Shel: Isn't it so weird that we were reading this as our government decided to shut down!? Crazy. I thought it was interesting to read the 'behind the scenes' aspect of what these writers saw as happening in the White House as politicians are wasting out time and money.

Court: Jamie is the narrator, and the obvious is going to happen when the blurb tells us this intern (who is 21) goes on to have an affair with the President. It's all very Bill Clinton a la Monica Lewinsky for a while (and yes, even though I'm only 24 I do actually know all about that..lol)....but the undertones of her life that is a lost love, a non-feeling family and being separated from anyone she knows that really point to no wonder she turns to a married man when he offers up affections. Just...that man being the sitting President might not have been a great idea!

Shel: Courtney...I found her naivety so cringeworthy. It's not that I was super sophisticated at 21 or 22..or ever...but I just wanted to constantly tell her to take her head out of her ass and look at the big picture. I MEAN. GAH! What married President, during and election year, is going to leave his wife for you? I'm thinking not one. Not only is she clueless about where his loyalties lie...it seems that she's unable to keep this affair secret...and so my frustration level with her continued to rise.

Court: This story holds a lot of deceit, but not all in the places that you would think. Someone that Jamie confided something so huge in told all her dirty deets...and seeing that utter train wreck crash and burn was painful! I felt bad for her, but on the other hand was thinking "What an idiot! What did she expect?" Shel: I felt your pain, Court.

Shel: The last 20% of this novel moved in warp speed and it made me pause to think about the Monica Lewinsky's of the world--not only the loss of reputation, but of funds, of friends and family, of a career...of so much. I hate what she did but it made me realize that her male counterpart had just as much to do with it and lost a lot less from it. Anywho...there was a lot of plot crammed in these last pages and I was happy to see many of my questions answered but I found that I still had a few that I'd love to have answers to.

Court: The writing really made up for the wild and outrageous happenings and thought processes of our heroine, and that I very much enjoyed. But...there were a few threads left hanging for me that I would have liked to seen resolved more than they were. More conversations and resolutions...but I guess lies such as these are something that are one true part of high stakes politics!


Courtney: 3 Stars
Shelley: 3 1/2 Stars

[Joy (joyous reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

In My Own Words

Democrat President. Intern. Clandestine affair. Need I elaborate further? I think that's really all you need to know. If you've read the story of one infamous Monica Lewinsky and an impeached Bill Clinton, then this is the play-by-play account of what happened before Bill went on to apologize for lying when he said, I did not have sexual relations with that woman.

My Thoughts

About a month or so ago, I read this book about a sixteen-year-old who had an affair with her professor. Yes, professor, because she was on a fast-track program at the Community College where she was taking some college level courses. She was smart; smarter than anyone in her class. They begin this relationship behind closed doors; it was sweet and full of steamy sexual tensions due to the illicit nature of their relationship. The romance is one of those you wouldn't be able to resist rooting for, albeit wrong in the society's eyes (and against the law, for that matter). The professor didn't know she was sixteen because she purposely hid the truth from him. Total icky situation. I knew it wasn't going to end well. There was just too much lying that went on and the publicity that followed the discovery just didn't make for any possible future regardless of how seemingly in love they were. I pretty much saw the writing on the wall as soon as I read the synopsis. Needless to say, I didn't have a good time reading it because the whole time, I was anticipating their demise.

I had the same feelings whilst reading this book. In a perfect romance novel scenario, the impeached president will find a way for them to be together - especially if there were hints that the marriage between him and the first lady was far from blissful. But it's not meant to be. The process of how the truth came about involved a whole slew of conspiracy and contrived entrapment from the Republicans. It was a train wreck that happened painstakingly slow. In the end, there were too many heartaches, compounded by lies and horrific publicity. There was no way they could be together.

There's a point in the book where you would question who the mistake was: the wife? or the mistress? There's also a point in the book where you would not be able to resist calling the mistress an idiot for not being able to shut her mouth about the relationship. She trusted people to keep her secret and the authors didn't make it easy for the readers to decipher who will be the Linda Tripp of the whole ordeal. But Jaime was so naive; and at 21 years old, I guess I can understand. Though at some point, you would think her background in politics would kick in and somehow give her the presence of mind to stop the madness.

This book was absolutely addictive. The writing duo of McLaughlin and Kraus perfectly captured what was involved behind the scenes when a scandal of this magnitude happens. Unfortunately, I wish they didn't follow what happened with Clinton and Lewinsky to the letter - even right down to the stained coat. That was just tacky and to be perfectly honest, a cop-out.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog My Novel Opinion.

Let me start by saying that I probably wouldn't have picked this book up had Netgalley not invited me to read it, however it was very readable, compulsively so!

While the last book I read by this author duo, Between You & Me, was very reminiscent of the life of Britney Spears, The First Affair made me think about the Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky affair. While I was only in my early teens when the news of the Clinton-Lewinsky affair broke, it is obviously a highly publicized case so of course I was familiar with many aspects of the case...enough to see too many similarities to Jamie McAlister and President Gregory Rutland in this fictitious account.

Obviously the Clinton-Lewinsky affair is a huge moment in not only U.S. history but World history, and in years to come I'm sure it will still be spoken about, and I'm also fully aware that many authors get inspiration from real world events, BUT and it's a BIG BUT...I think a different spin could've been put on it rather than The First Affair being almost a carbon copy of Lewinskygate.

The saving grace for me was reading about Jamie's difficult childhood, living with an alcoholic father and living in the shadows of an older sister (Erica) who inherited the same addictive personality. Growing up in a volatile middle-class environment, Jamie seems to have craved attention from older male figures - apparent when we are introduced to a character from her past - to make up for the love and affection her father was unable to offer. This background offered an insight into how and why a person such as Jamie could be so naive and needy of attention. It's just an unfortunate series of events that led her to a huge mistake.

Rated 3 out of 5: After reading Between You & Me, I just felt that this followed the same formula in that the main characters and events are based on extremely familiar real life people and events. Also at times it felt as though the two different writing styles of the authors was quite obvious and this interrupted the flow for me. It was hard for me to only rate The First Affair 3 out of 5 as I really do like the authors, and overall I did enjoy the book but there were just too many flaws for me to group it with some of the other books I rated 4 out of 5 so far this year. I would still recommend this book to other readers, especially those looking for an easy summer read.

[Aly · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first when this was describe to me, it was described as a novel for people who loved the show Scandal. I think that association and recommendation is absolutely misleading, The First Affair is more like the President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky fiasco.

After graduating and not immediately securing a job in the current job market, to avoid working at a job that will make her wear a name tag (think food or retail), Jamie secures an internship at the White House. Although it's not her dream scenario she hopes that it will boost her resume. After an accidental encounter they beginning an affair. It's all rules and control, and affects Jamie personally and professionally in ways she never thought about.


I ultimately understand Jamie as a character, but her naivety is mind blowing. I understand Washington D.C. and the political world was not her end goal, but her naiveté is so aggravating. She's playing with the pros not her local city council.

There were times that I had to remind myself that it wasn't a real story, because for a person who supposedly didn't want to get caught, she was making so many mistakes and is absolutely too trusting. Her naiveté makes me question the time line of the novel. I just don't understand how a modern, technological savvy woman from Generation Y wouldn't understand the risks and consequences of getting involved with the policitian, especially POTUS. I know she has feelings and such, but at the same time I would've thought she would've had a back up plan in case anything went wrong. If this story takes places before the Clinton/Lewinsky debacle or is what happened instead of, I can understand, but if not, I just don't understand this character especially after so many politicians are getting caught misbehaving.

The strongest aspects of this novel, is the two subplots. They both help flush out Jamie as a character and at the same time are brilliant plot devices. One has to do with Jamie's past relationship and how that has effect her and her decision making, and the other revolves around Jamie's place within her family, which also helps the reader understand Jamie and understand why she makes some of the decisions that she makes.

Throughout this whole process I feel like I'm waiting for Jamie to grow up. When she does at the end, I can't help but applaud her. It's like there's this revelation and something just clicks and that moment is the heart of the novel.

ARC Provided by Publisher.